"Consultant-led maternity service at FGH"

I was admitted to Furness General in June 2011 with severe abdominal pains.

After I was sent for a scan, it was discovered that my right ovary had a large cyst and was contorted. Because the ovary had twisted so much, there was no blood supply to it and this is what caused the pain. I also had a very large lateral fibroid (pain free).

The only option was to remove my ovary by key hole surgery before further complications. However, the cyst surrounding the ovary was so big, it had to be removed by open surgery.

As I had never had any kind of surgery before, I was scared. Even more so as I was 10 weeks pregnant at the time. This meant a 50/50 chance of a miscarriage. After 3 days in hospital, I was discharged. Throughout the rest of my pregnancy, I was heavily monitored by my consultant at FGH and scanned every 4 weeks to check the baby was ok.

In the last month of my pregnancy, I suffered with very high blood pressure and was admitted several times with suspected pre-eclampsia. I didn't develop pre-eclampsia, but had to return to FGH every 2 days to have my blood pressure check and the baby monitored for 60 minutes. I was induced a few days early due to my blood pressure and safely delivered my little boy.

I can't fault the care I received at FGH maternity. My consultant was excellent, as were the midwives and other doctors I dealt with. Due to the complications I have had, I have been told any future pregnancy will be considered high risk because of my blood pressure and fibroid.

If FGH didn't have consultant-led maternity, my situation would have been very different. As Barrow in Furness is such a long way from any other hospital, the maternity service is vital to the area. It is not in the interest of Barrow in Furness and the surrounding area to close this service.